Growers asked to report irrigation issues near Wanapum Dam

An irrigation pump is exposed south of the Rock Island Dam after water was drawn down from the Wanapum Dam at the end of February, 2014. (Courtesy Chelan County Public Utility District)

Irrigators and well users between Wanapum and Rocky Reach Dams are asked to report problems to water officials if problems are found associated with the damage to Wanapum Dam and the resulting water drawdown.

Washington Department of Ecology director, Maia Bellon, asks that growers in particular may be venerable to low water levels in a press release issued by the department today.

“We recognize this is a critical time of year when irrigators are starting to use water on their crops,” Bellon said. “We are reaching out to learn who might be having problems accessing water as we explore ways to remedy water supply concerns.”

A meeting for Chelan area growers who use surface water has been scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 13 in Wenatchee, Washington at the Confluence Technology Center.

Water users who expect problems are asked to contact resource officials at two numbers: Chelan, Douglas and Kittitas counties call (509) 575-2490, and Grant County (509) 329-3400.

TJ Mullinax is a digital producer and photojournalist for Good Fruit Grower, coming to the magazine with a newspaper and television broadcast background. Mullinax grew up in the Pacific Northwest and covered communities through the Willamette Valley, Columbia Gorge and Central Washington working more than 10 years as a professional journalist. -- Follow the author: Phone: (509) 853-3519 -- Email